Snap switch



Max-h 11, 1958 H. F. MASON SNAP SWITCH Filed April 12, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ivre/vra?.

.Flon/ ARD MASQ/v,

March 11, 1958 H. F. MASON 2,825,557

SNAP SWITCH Filed April 12, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 2 jira. 6T

March l1, 1958 Filed April l2, 1954 Ey A/Js rroeA/Eys- Heee/s, K/Ec/f, F/osr-ER Hveefs.

United States Patent Oiitice 22,826,657 Patented Mar. 11, 1958 SNAP switch Howard F. Mason, Los Angeles, Cali., assigner to Mason Electric Corporation, Los Angeles, Calrh, a corporation oitallornia Application April 12, 1954, Serial No. 422,645

18 Claims. .(Cl. 200-67) The present invention relates to a new and improved snap switch construction. More specifically, the present invention relates to improvements over the switch constructions shown in my co-pending applications arial No. 162,256,1led May 16, 1950, and Serial No. l63,409, tiled May 22, y1950, now latent No. 2,678,974.

ln both of these cti-pending applications, switches arc shown in which yieldable snap means capable ot being deformed from an original contiguration to a second configuration under pressure, and capable of returning to the original conguration by the release of such pressure, are positioned between a llxed Contact member and an actu` ating contact member or armature. Constructions such as are shown in these prior applications are extremely advantageous inasmuch as the yieldable snap means allows the operationrof the switches in such a man-ner that the contacts are whipped towards or away from one anotherwith a comparatively large amount of force as the pressure within the snap means is either built up and then suddenly released, or, once the snap means has been deformed, is suddenly released and the snap means returns to its original conguration. Experience has pre-ven that such rapid making or breaking of electrical contacts is extremely valuable, cutting down unnecessary arcing as the vcontacts, are moved towards or away from one another. Constructions shown in the aforesaid applications are extremely valuable inasmuch as with them a positive feel Vis obtained which enables the operator of the switch to determine positively whether contact has been made Or broken. rhis is extremely advantageous for many uses, such as, for example, in aircraft when the operator of the switch must know without any question whether ornot a circuit has been closed.

lt has been discovered that it is possible to create new and improved switch constructions in which the contacts Lare moved towards or away from one another even more yrapidly than in the constructions shown in the aforesaid applications, `and which retain all of the advantageous `-features noted in these applications. Brielly, it may be stated that one object of the instant invention is to produce new and improved switches in which the mating contacts are whipped together or apart much more rapidly than in any known prior constructions of a similar commercialcategory.

A more detailed object of the instant disclosure is to produce new and improved electrical switches in which a stationary mating contact is `resiliently mounted as with a spring or pad of resilient material such as a rubber pad adjacent lto a snap means, which, in turn, is mounted adjacent to a movable armature containing a movable Contact yin such a manner that motion of the armature causes yboth the snap means and the stationary mating Contact to be moved with a build-up of pressure as the armature is moved towards this mating Contact until the point is reached at which the pressure is suddenly released by deformation ofthe snap means, whipping the contacts against one another.

As .the armature in a construction indicated in the prelil ceding paragraph is moved away from the resiliently mounted stationary mating contact, the reverse of the process described is repeated, and the contact points on both the stationary mating contact and the armature are whipped away from one another. lt may be considered a further object to create a switch construction having this breaking action.

Fl`he yieldable snap means employed with this invention is specifically as described in my pending application Serial No. 243,722, filed August 25, 1951, now Patent No. 2,684,843, and is of such a construction that it is capable of being deformed from an original conliguralion to a second configuration under pressure Aand is capable of returning to said original coniiguration by the release of such pressure. Such yieldable snap means may be termed a detent, if desired. The use of a detent plus a resilient lier-:ible mounting of the stationary con tact employed with switches of this invention allows, as brieliy indicated in the preceding discussion, an increased amount of pressure to be built up as an armature is moved towards the resiliently mounted stationary member, this pressure being capable of being released suddenly when the detent of the invention is deformed, releasing built-up pressure. This increased amount of pressure allows a much more rapid mating of the contact than has heretofore been possible or practical with prior related constructions. ln addition, this construction is advantageous from a commercial point of view inasmuch as it is relatively easy to manufacture and is virtually foolproof.

A still further object of `the invention is to produce a snap action switch of the class described in which a plurality of stationary mating contacts are resiliently mounted with a detent or snap means, as described above, positioned between or adjacent to such contacts and a movable armature containing contacts so as to obtain the advantages indicated. lf desired, these stationary mating contacts may be positioned around the sides of a polygonal armature so that this armature may be moved against any one of the "stationary mating contacts as desired.

A further object of the invention is to produce a rotary switch in which, as the shaft is turned, a detent positioned between a movable armature and a resiliently mounted stationary contact is subjected to pressure until it is suddenly deformed, allowing the armature and the contact to lcome rapidly against one another.

A further object of the invention is to create sequentially-operated switches, employing the advantageous features herein described. More specih-cally, it is lan object to create sequentially-operated switches in which resiliently mounted contact-containin g members are placed so that, as one of these members is moved from the original position by the application of force, pressure is built up to a given point by snap means positioned either between or adjacent to these members, at which point the pressure built up within the snap means is released, allowing the contacts mounted on such members to come rapidly against one another. A related object is to produce constructions of this type in which such contacts may be rapidly whipped away from one another by the release ot the initial actuating pressure.

Still further objects of the present invention, as well as many advantages of it, will be apparent from the balance of this specification, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a tour-way switch construction of the invention in an open position;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the switch shown in Fig. l in a closed position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken at line 1 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. is a sectional View taken at line 5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a modiied four-way switch construction of the invention which is similar to the sectional View shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional View taken at line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and ll of the drawings are partial crosssectional views of the switch construction shown in Fig. 6 illustrating part of this switch construction in operation;

Fig. 12 is a side View of a rotary switch construction of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken at line 'i3 Fig. 12 of the drawings;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken at line 14-14 of Fig. 13 of the drawings;

Fig. 15 is a side view of a sequentially operating switch of the invention;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken at line i6-lio of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken at line l7i7 of Fig. 16 of the drawings; and

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a modified sequentially operating switch construction of the invention.

In Fig. l oi' the drawings, there is shown a switch 2G which consists of a cylindrical side casing 21 to the top of which there is attached a cap 22 by means of an edge ange 23 secured to the casing 21 by conventional means, such as, for example, an adhesive. The bottom of the casing 21 is closed by a positioning member 24- consisting of a llat bottom wall 25 and side walls 26 placed within the casing 2i.

Periodically around the outside of the walls 26 of this positioning member 2d, substantially llat rectangular recesses 27 are located so as to accommodate and tightly hold portions 32 of stationary contact members 3l? between the positioning member 2dand the casing Zi. As is quite apparent from Fig. 1 of the drawings,'the bottoms of these contact members 3h are formed as connecting terminals 31 which may be easily and conveniently connected to electrical leads by conventional procedures. The portions 32 of the contact members 3rd which are positioned in contact with both the casing 2 and the positioning member 24 and are within the recesses 27, are further held in position within these recesses by pins 33 projecting through apertures 34 within the positioning member 24 and apertures 3S widiin the contact members 3Q. if desired, these pins 33 may be formed integrally with the contact members 36, or they may consist of separate elements merely located as shown during the assembly of the construction.

The central portions 36 of the contact members 3@ are preferably formed with slight offsets 57 and are located within larger, flat, elongated, rectangular depressions formed within the walls 26 of the positioning Vmember 24. The upper portions di of these contact members 30 are preferably provided with contacts 42 which are olset from the central portions 36 o the contact :nembers 3) by means of slight oilsets 43. As shown, these contacts 42 are located within the casing 21 beyond the end 44E of the positioning member 24.

Within the bottom wall ZS of the positioning member 24 there is formed a conductive armature ringedwhich is connected toa conductive connecting tab o of sini: ilar construction to the terminals 31 projecting from the bottom wall externally of the switch Also connected to the armature ring d5' is a conductive armature cup 47 which is positioned within an aperture centrally located within the bottom wall 25, and which projects internally of the casing 21 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The bottom Si of this armature cup 47 is located medially within the wall 25 and is thus spaced from the exterior of this wall 25 within the aperture Siti. ribis bottom Si is provided with a centrally 1ocated opening 52 which is adapted to hold a small cylind drical projection 54 upon an armature 55', as shown in the drawings.

This projection 54 is provided with a small flanged element 56 adjacent to the outside of the switch 20 which serves to prevent the armature from slipping away from the wall 2.5 during the assembly of the various components comprising the switch 20. Immediately within tre armature cup i7 there is formed upon the armature 55 connected to the projection 54 a sloping shoulder 57 fitting tightly within the cup 47 so that, as the armature 55 is moved with pressure holding it against the cup 47, this sloping shoulder 57 will always be in electrical contact with the cup 47. Immediately above the sloping shoulder 57, there is located a central body portion 60 ot' the armature 55, around which there is located an actuating band 61 within the positioning member 24. This band 61 is adapted to bear against yieldable snap means or detents d?. held within the positioning member 24 with their bottom edges 63 being positioned at the juncture of the bottom wall 25 and the slide walls 26 of this positioning member, and with their upper portions 64 bearing against buttons 65 projecting through apertures 66 within the walls 26, as shown, and projecting against the central portions fit) of the contact members 30. It is seen from a close examination of Fig. 1 of the drawings that when the switch is in the position indicated in this figure the Contact members 3h hold the outer ends 67 of these buttons 65 flush against the walls 26 with the inner ends 68 of the buttons 65 projecting from these walls against the upper portions 64 of the detents 62. The permissible motion of the detents 62 caused by these buttons 65 is limited by projections 69 on a retaining ring 69 held adjacent to the positioning memer 2li.

Positioned on the portion of the body 6i) of the armature 55 removed from the wall 25, there are a series of' contact l.embers 7o positioned approximately opposite the contacts 42 as indicated in the drawings. These contacts 42 and 7@ are provided with at surfaces which are adapted to mate with one another, as will be more fully explained later. immediately above the contacts 70 on the armature 55 there is provided a at upper surface 71 surrounding an upstanding threaded projection 72 which is adapted to retain an actuator 73 having a curved bottom 7-'3- iitting over a curved top 75 of the cap 22 within a cruciform-shaped opening 76, as shown inthe drawings. This actuator 73 is attached to the threaded projection 72 by an internally threaded projection 77, as shown.

Positioned around the projection 72 against the at surface 7l of the contact members 7i) is a disc-shaped spring means Sti which is held in place against this surface 71 by means of a washer 81 bearing against the internally threaded projection '77. The edge of the spring means Sti is provided with a flange 82 which ts within a corresponding groove 83 formed within the top of the casing 21, as shown, and is held in position within this groove by action of the cap 22 bearing against the surface 84 of the spring means 80. Midway between the inner and outer edges ot the spring dit, there is provided an upwardly curved groove 85 which serves to provide increased spring action of the spring member. A recess -S is provided within the cap 22 for the purpose of accommodating the groove 85.

in using the construction shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the terminals 46 and 31 are connected into an electrical circuit in the expected manner, and the armature 55 is forced towards one side of the casing 21 so as to establish contactbetween the adjacent contact members 719 and 42. The net result of this motion isshown perhaps most clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As the armature 55 rotates about the armature cup 47 in a pivotal manner, the band 61 bears against the central portion of a detent 62, which, in turn, transmits pressure exerted against it by means of the buttons 65 to the central portion 36 of a-contact :member '30, causing .this contact member to move in the .same .general .directlon in which the armature 55 is forced. As a sufficient amount of pressure is built up by virtue of the motion of the armature 55 and the motion against the inherent resiliency of the contact member 30, the detent 6:2 will suddenly assume the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings with its central portion 86 collapsing and with its end portion 87 moving towards the armature 55. This motion will cause a rapid release of the pent-up pressure within the contact member 30, causing this member to whip towards the armature 55 as the force exerted by the detent 62 holding the armature away from the contact member is also suddenly released, allowing the armature S5 to whip in the direction of the contact member 30. The net result of these motions is to produce extremely rapid mating of the contacts 42 and 70. This rapid mating action reduces the possibility of undesired scintillation, and, further, the sudden release of pressure which accompanies the action provides a signal that contact has been achieved which may be readily detected by one holding the armature 55.

When the armature ris pulled back to its original position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the pressure within the detent 62 will suddenly, with an exertion of i pressure, snap back to its original conguration and in so doing will force the button 65 against the central portion 36 of the contact member 30, tending to shove or whip this contact member away from the armature 55 with an extremely rapid motion, matching the motion described above in connection with placing the contacts 42 and 70 against one another. Normally, the detent 62 is manufactured in such a manner as is described in the co-pending applications referred to above so that it will resume its initial configuration by the mere release of pressure on the armature 55, tending to close contacts 42 and 7i,

It will be understood that either the actuating band 61, or the pins 33 and the buttons 65, must be of insulating material to prevent shortng of the contacts 42 and 70 through the detents 62.

In Figs. 6 through l1 of the drawings, constructions are illustrated which are extremely closely related to those constructions described in conjunction with the initial configuration of the drawings, but'which differ from such constructions in that the detents or snap means employed are mounted within a casing upon the resiliently mounted stationary contact members.

By a detailed examination of Fig. 6 of the drawings,

it is seen that the switch shown in this figure consists of a substantially cylindrical casing 101 having a domed top end 102 provided with a cruciform-shaped center opening 103. The bottom 104 of the cylindrical casing 101 is normally open when the switch 100 is in an unassembled condition, and when it is assembled, the

bottom 104- is occupied by a bottom plate 105 having a center armature holding construction 106 which consists of a metal contact plate 107 held between a flanged side plate 108 and a ange 109 on a bottom terminal sleeve 110 having an aperture 111 so located that this sleeve may be readily connected by conventional means to an electrical conduit. The contact plate 107 is centrally provided with an opening 112 of smaller dimension than the inside diameter of the bottom terminal sleeve 110 and of smaller diameter than the flanged plate 103 as shown. All three of these members 110, 107 and 108 are normally held within a resinous body 113 as shown, and may be formed in this configuration by any conventional operation, suc-h as, for example, injection molding.

Around the outside of the bottom plate 105 there are provided a series of recesses 114, between this plate 105 and the casing 101, which are adapted to hold stationary contact members 115. Each of these Contact members preferably is composed of a resilient metal strip, one end of which is formed into a terminal 116 of Ya conventional nature leading to a U-shaped spring clip member 117 which is adapted to fit in and within the recess 114 around the bottom vplate 105 between this bottom plate and the casing 101 in a fixed position with the top 118 of the U-shaped member 117 bearing against the cylindrical casing 101. Each of the stationary contact members is preferably further formed with .a central section 120 which is aligned with the terminal 116, as shown, and which carries within the cylindrical casing 101 a detent retaining housing 121 consisting of a back wall 122 running parallel to the section 120 of the contact member 115 between this section and the casing 101 and end walls 123 secured to this central section 120 by means of bent-over tabs 124 as shown and side walls 124 similarly secured to the center section 120.

Within each ofthe housings 121, there is positioned a yieldable snap means or detent 125 having ends 126 bearing against raised projections 127 positioned on :the back 122 of the housing 121 and having a center section 12S positioned adjacent to the center section 120 of the contact member 115 so as to be engaged by an insulating button 130 placed within an opening 131 within the center sections 120. These buttons 130 are held in place within such openings by means of flange shoulders 132 thereon engaging curved sides 133 of the openings 131. It is seen from a detailed examination of this construction that the detents 125 normally force the buttons 130 against the center section 120 so as to project as fast into the center of the casing 101 as conveniently possible. The top portions 134 of the Contact members 115 are preferably provided with flat contacts 135 of a conventional nature placed as shown adjacent to the top 102 of the casing 101 in such a position that they may mate readily with contacts 136 mounted adjacent to them upon an armature 137.

This armature preferably consists of a top handle 138 attached to a shaft 140 projecting through the opening 103 on the top 102 of the casing 101, and leading to a contact support portion 141 which carries within a groove 142 an edge 143 of a resilient membrane 144 secured at its edge 145 to the junction of the casing 101 and the top 102. Immediately below the contact support portion 141, the armature 137 contains a second shaft member 146 leading to a button contact section 147 having flat surfaces 148 which are adapted to bear against the buttons 130 as the armature 137 is moved. Immediately below this button contact section 147, the armature 137 contains a third shaft section 150 leading within a top opening 151 within the bottom plate 105 to the opening in the contact plate 107, the flanged plate 108, and the bottom terminal sleeve 110. This shaft section 150 is provided with a sloping shoulder 152 which is adapted to rest against the contact plate 107 within the tianged plate 108, as shown, and which is held generally within this locus by means of a screw 153 projecting through the aperture 112 from within the sleeve 110 so as to fasten the shaft 150 of the armature 137.

The operation of this modied construction of the invention, as shown in Fig, 6, is perhaps most clearly shown in Figs. 8, 9, l0 and ll of the drawings. For convenience of illustration, part of casing construction illustrated in Fig. 6 has been omitted from these figures. In the use of this switch construction, the armature 137 may be moved in any direction in such a manner that it pivots about the contact plate 107 with the shoulder 152 always in contact with this plate 107. During such motion, a surface 148 of this armature will bear against a button 130 which will, in turn, tend to force the contact member 115 to rotate slightly in a clockwise direction as vviewed in Fig. 8 of the drawings, Throughout such motion, the contacts 135 and 136 remain apart as shown. After the contact member 1 1 F' been moved from its original location a given amount, suliicient pressure will be built upY between the armature 137 Vand this Contact member so that suddenly the detent 125 will` be deformed to the conguration shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, with the center portion 123 of this detent moved towards the casing 101 by virtue of motion of the button 13% towards this casing. This motion is accompanied by the movement of the contact member 115 back to its original configuration. Thus, from a detailed analysis of the drawings, it is seen that the rnatinT action of contacts 115 and 136 is essentiahy a whip action of the Contact meniber115 and the detent 125, and is a result of a build-up of force caused by movement of the armature 137 transmitted through the button 13th to both this detent 125 and to the Contact member 115, and which is suddenly released by a snap action of the detent 125. in l0 and 1l of the drawings'it is seen that the breaking of the contact of the invention commences by a simple movement of the armature 137 back to its original central position with a subsequent rapid return of the button to its original configuration removed a maximum possible distance from the casing 1%1 'with essentially the reverse of the action previously described.

In Figs. l2, 13 and i4 of the drawings, a rotary switch is shown which is constructed following7 the broad teachings of this invention. This switch consists of a cylindrical casing 16 one end 162 of which is covered by a washer 163 which, in turn, is capped by an annular ring 164 which is closer, by means of a top cap 165, as shown in Fig. 14. rEhe other end of the casing 1h51 is closed by means of a plate 157. The plate 167, casing 161, washer 163, annular ring and the top cap 165 are secured in relationship to one another by means of bolts 168, as shown, these bolts proiecting through aperture 172D formed within these members 161,162', 163, 164, 16S and 167. ri`he top cap 165 is provided with a centrally protruding boss bearing 1 crovided on its external surface with threads 17?1 for attachment to an appropriate mounting device. Within this bearing 171 a shaft 173 projects into the space between the washer 163, the ring 164 and the top cap 1e'where it is attached to a disclike rotor 174l having a dependent center boss 175 which projects through the center of the washer 163 into the end 162 of the cylindrical casing Mounted upon this rotor 174 so as to project from it through the boss 175 into the casing 161, is a small pin 17e which is adapted Vto be turned as the shaft 173 is rotated. in order to prevent thisrshaft 173 from sipping towards the exterior of the device, it is provided with a shoulder 177 which bears against an appropriate shoulder 17S within the boss 171.

Disposed within the inner surface 1S@ of the casing 161, there are provided a series of regularly shaped notches 181 which are adapted to hold the ends of various fastening elements i As shown in Figs. i3 and i4, these fastening elements 182 consist of rounded heads provided with centrally located slots ld secured within the casing over bossi` like washers 1&5 secure i i i notches 131, as shown, iso as to hold ends and against these washers 185. To accomplish this pur cse, each head 133 is attached by means or" screw leads (not shown) to a central shaft 187 projecting through an aperture 1% within the casing 161, being held in position with respect to this casing by a flange 191 bearing against the external surface of the casing 161, as shown. in order to attach appropriate electrical leads Vto the fastening elements 182, exterior slotted heads 192 are attached to the shaft 187 by means of internal screw threads (not shown). it will be understood, from a brief inspection of the drawings, that the fastening elements 132 are held in place by virtue of the slotted heads 133 being drawn up so as to pull the various elements held by these heads CII towards the casing 161 while the anges 191 grasp the outsideof this casing 161.

The end 186, shown most clearly in Fig. 13 of the drawings, forms part of a resiliently mounted, stationy Contact member 194.1, having an upstanding portion 5 leading from the end 1&6 to a flat body portion 196 containing, on its extremity removed from the end 136, a Contact 197, adjacent to which there is positioned a flange 19 which is adapted to bear against the casing s Contact member 194 is moved from the p0- own to any considerable extent, preventing too a motion of this Contact member.

i .o other end 186 is attached to a detent-holding Contact member or armature Ztl@ having a central secl curved around the interior of the casing 161,

leading to a detent-holding housing EQ2 poone-d within the casing 161 so as to be substantially allel to the body portion of the stationary contact member 194. This housing 2%2 is essentially of the same category illustrated in tne modihcation of the invention shown in Figs. 6 through ll or" the drawings, and consists ci a rear wall 2533, side walls ZM, end walls and a front wall 2&6, upon which there is mounted itact Ztl? and through which there projects an innung button 21h having internal shoulders 211 adapted to bear against a curved flange 212. This button 214B is normally held in the position indicated by means of a detent or snap means 213 positioned within the housing Z522, as shown, with its opposed extremities bearing against p" ections 1n order to provide structural stability to support the housing 232, a triangularly-shaped iiange web 215 is provided between the back wall Zil of this housing and part of the central section Zilli of the contact member Zilli.

in operation oi the evice shown in Figs. l2 through of the drawings, this device is mounted by means of the threads 172 and appropriate leads are attached to the fastening elements 182 in a conventional manner. The device is then ready Yfor use, and, by rotating the sha-tt 173, the pin 176 can be brought to bear against the ange web 215', causing the Contact member of the detent-holding housing 2212 to move against the stationary resilient Contact member 194i. As this occurs, the butt-on 21? presses against the section 196 of the contact member` 1&4, forcing this latter-contact member from its normal position and building up pressure within it by virtue o-its inherent resiliency. Simultaneously, pressure is built up by virtue of the button 219 pressing' against the snap action means or detent 213. When a certain amount or", pressure has been reached, depending upon the precise characteristics of this detent 213, it will deiorm rapidly from its original conguration to a seco-nd configuration, allowing the button 210 to be forced within the housing 262 by the action of the stationary contact member whipping towards this housing, As

' this occurs, the two contacts 197 and 2197 will be whipped towards one another with Very rapid mating action. As the shaft 173 is turned from the web ange 215, the detent or snap action means 213 will suddenly revert to its original configuration, causing the contacts 197 and Ztl? to whi rapidly apart.

Fins. l5, i6, and i7 of the drawings there is shown a sequentially operated switch construction in accordance Y with the broad teachings` of the invention which cornprises a housingA having a bottom wall 221, parallel side walls 22,2, an open end 2255,V a closed end 224, and an open top 225', so as to define internal cavity 226. Within the cavity 225 adjacent to the top 225 is an electrical conductor'or Contact which is pivotally mounted about a rod carried by side barsiZ within cavities 233 in the side walls 222, theseside bars 252 forming ends ofl a flat terminal section 234 having a terminal tabY for connection toan appropriate electrical lead (11G-t shown); rihisrterminal section 2553 is held in proadapted to mate with this latter Contact button.

sition within the closed rend 224 by contact .with a cap 236 and by the action of bolts 237 having heads 238 fitting within top recesses 23?l in the cap 236, these bolts 237 and dependent flanges Zelt) on the cap 236 projecting through openings 243. in the terminal section 234.

A curved end section 242 of a body section 243 of the Contact 231i engages the rod 231 with a hat end 244 of this curved section 242 engaging the cap 236, preventing undesired retention of the contact 23% out of the cavity 226. The body section 243 is provided with an aperture 24S defined by a ilange 2-/i6 facing the bottom wall 222i and having curved shoulders 247' carrying an insulating button 247 which is adapted to bear against a detent 24S as previously described. This detent 248 is held within a housing 249 of essentially the category indicated in the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 6 through 1l of the drawings and in the modification of the invention shown in Figs. l2 through 14 of the drawings. Because the construction of this housing has been described in conjunction with the description oi these ligures, it will not be described here.

The body section 243 of the contact 230 removed from the curved end section 242 carries an offset handle 250 projecting beyond the open end 223. This handle 250 is equipped on its side adjacent to the bottom wall 221 within the cavity 226 with a contact button 251. The contact is manually held in the position shown in Fig. 16 by a spring 252 engaging the body section 243, the terminal tab 23S, and the `dependent anges 240 over the cap 236.

Placed within the cavity 226 so as to manually be held against the button 247 is a body section 259 of a second electrical conductor or Contact 269 having contact buttons 261i and 262 positioned on opposite sides of this body section adjacent to the contact button 25H, and The body section 259 is provided with upstanding flanges 263 along its sides to provide structural rigidity, and is connected to a terminal section 26d having an aperture 265 and carrying a 'terminal tab 266 for the obvious purpose. This aperture is designed to be placed around anges 267 oi a spacing member 26S, the ilanges 267 bearing against the flanges 244), and being traversed by the bolts 237. The terminal sections 264 and 23S are held apart by a spacing member 269 placed in the end 224i around the ilanges 2do and 267, .this ,opening member being equipped with an internal supporting projection 27@ bearing against the body section 259 within the cavity 226.

A third electrical conductor or Contact 2S@ is positioned within the cavity 226 between the Contact 26@ and the bottom wall 221 so that a contact butto-n positioned on a body section 252 of this contact 253 is iositioned adjacent to the contact 262 or the contact c so as to 'be adapted to mate therewith. carries a housing 25553 which is similar in contruction to the housing 249 and a projecting insulating button held in the same manner as the button is held. As is -most clearly seen in Fig. i6, both the buttons M and 247 bear against the body section 259 of the second contact 26d.

Attached to the body section 282 of the contact 280 is a terminal section 235 having an aperture 286 surrounding an upstanding flange 237 on the bottom wall 222 and held in this position by the bolts 237 projecting through an aperture 23S in this ange and by contact with the spacing member with the flange 2S7 iitting Within an internal boss 2855 within this latter member.

The terminal section 235 carries a terminal tab 259 for the obvious purpose of attachment to an electrical lead.

Positioned between this terminal section 235 and a shoulder 29@ on the bottom wall 221 and the flange 287 is a spring 291 having a lower section 292 projecting into the cavity 226 and contacting the housing 2233 so as to rThis body section 282 Clt 1.0 provide spring support to this housing. A nut 293 in each bolt 237 is held in a cavity 294 in the bottom wall 221. Positioned on this wall 221 there are also projections 295 for use in positioning the construction shown.

The operation of the switch shown in Figs. 15, 16, and 17 is comparatively simple in spite of the apparent complexity of the construction. After appropriate leads are connected to the terminal tabs 235, 266, and 289, the contact 23) is formed on the bottom wall 22l causing pressure to be built up within the detent 243 because of the button 21?.'.7 being forced against the body section 259 of the second contact 26h. Simultaneously, pressure is built up within the detent (not shown) in the housing 283 because of the body section 25'9 being forced toward the contact 286 against the button 234 contacting this detent. rl`he spring 291 absorbs some of this pressure and the contacts 260 and 286 tend to act as springs, also absorbing some of this pressure. When the pressure has been built up to a sufficient predetermined level, the detents suddenly deform to a second position, releasing pressure, allowing the contact buttons on the contacts 239, 26), and 238 to whip together rapidly. This motion is aided by a release of tension in the spring 291 and in the contacts 260 and 23d. When the pressure on the contact 281i is released, the various elements indicated return rapidly to `their original positions.

Fig. 18 shows a plunger-actuated switch utilizing two detents or sets .of nested detents 327 and 32711. A case 325 houses the switch components and also slidably mounts a plunger 326 and a compression spring 327'. A stern 323 of the plunger is the actuating extremity and engages a contact leaf or arm 322 which is pivotally supported at one end by the case 325, the other 'thereof having a contact button 33t). Afiixed to the arm 329 is an insulating stud a which is in alignment with the axis of the plunger, .the stud extending into engage tent with a detent 327. rhis vdetent is supported by a retainer plate 3261) and is held in position with overlapping eX- tensions (not shown) retaining the detent within the conlines of the plate. The plate 326i; is rigidly attached to a second contact leaf or arm 332, one extremity of the arm being pivotally attached ,to the case 325 and the other extremity thereof having a pair ci contacts 333. Similarly atlixed to the arm 332 is an insulating stud 234i which engages the adjacent detent 327m. This detent is retained in a similar manner by a retainer plate 3260, the plate being rigidly atnched to a conductor which is in 'firm lengagement with a resilient pad 337 of rubber or the like serving as a spring. this pad being mounted on the case 325. The lconductor arm 335 e7;- tends similarly to other contact arms and has a Contact button 336 at the end thereof. Only two sets of contacts and associated detents have been shown representative of a sequential structure.

lt is contemplated that conductor arm 332 may be constructed as a double leaf with insulation therebetween and with a contact 333 on the end of each leaf. in such a structure the center conductor 33;. would not be electrically common to both adjacent arms and thus it will provide for individual circuit connections. lt is also contemplated that any plurality of contact leads may be placed in sequence and operate substantially as will hereinafter be described.

Of particular novelty herein is the sequential operation of the contacts. One detent may require a dilierent force to cause deflection through the other detent. in such a construction, when the plunger 326 is depressed, the associated contacts will engage in accordance with the restraining force of the detents whereby one set of contacts will close before the other set will close. For example, assume that the detent afxed to the conductor arm 33S requires less force to cause deection than the detent Yaliiired to the contact leaf 332. When the plunger is depressed, the contacts 333 and 336 will first close and, as force is progressively applied to the plunger, then the contacts 333 and 33@ will close. The appropriate circuits to be energized are selectively attached to the contact arms and conductor arm. The perceptible snap action and the wiping of the contacts are equally attained in this embodiment.

The same sequential action may be provided with detents of equal strength on each conductor by the expedient of varying the location of the detents and engaging stud with respect to the conductor. For example, in Fig. 18, if the detent 327e and the associated stud 3 are moved toward the contact extremity t 332 and 335, the moment arm is increased. rbus, with equal characteristics cf both detents 327 and actuation of the plunger 326 will iirst cause engagement ot the contacts 33@ and 333, and progressive act"^^ion through the increased moment arm will cause subsequent engagement of the contacts 333 and 33 Similar modications may be made of the construction shown in Figs. 15 through 17 by varying the strength of the detents employed with this construction, or by varying the location of these detents and the Contact buttons On the contacts 2355 and 289. Such modifications obtain substantially the same results indicated in the discussion of Fic'. 13 with respect to a sequentially operating structure. in the specific construction shown in the drawings described previously, the device shown in Fig. 16 operates wi 'i all the contacts whipping together simultaneously, whereas in an altered device as described herein these contacts would come together and go apart in a predetermined manner with a rapid mating and breaking action.

Those skilled in the art will realize that a number of other modications may be made within the broad scope of the instant disclosure. As an exmaple of such modification, two or more detents may be employed for any application, instead of a single detent as herein described, and such detents may be either stacked one upon another or be positioned side by side. Similarly, pads or resilient material or separate springs of either a leaf or coil category or a flexible spring strip forming part of an electrical contact can be substituted for one another or can be used in conjunction with one another.

I claim as my invention:

l. in a multiple-pole electric switch, the combination ot: a frame having a base and providing a cavity; an armature disposed within said cavity and universally mounted to and in continuous conductive relation with said base; a plurality of i'irst contacts mounted upon said armature; resilient means attached to said frame providing a p urality ofsecond contacts in paired juxtaposition with said first contacts; a plurality of yieldable snap means connecting said armature and said resilient means, each of said snap means having reactive characteristics; and unitary means connected to said armature operative to selectively register any pair of said first and second contacts in conductive relation against restraint of said associated snap means.

2. ln a multiple-pole electric switch, the combination of t a frame having a base and providing an internal cavity; an armature disposed within said cavity and universally mounted to and in continuous conductive relation with said base; a plurality of first contact means conductively mounted on said armature; resilient spring means providing a plurality of second Contact means in paired juxtaposition with said irst contact means; a plurality of yieldable snap means connecting said resilient means and said armature and attached to said resilient means, each of said snap means having predetermined reactive characteristics; and unitary means attached to said armature operative to register any pair of said first and second Contact means in conductive relation against restraint of its associated snap means.

3. ln a multiple-pole electric switch, a combination of: a frame having a base and providing a cavity; an armature disposed within said cavity and universally mounted to and in continuous conductive relation with said base;

a plurality of irst contacts conductively mounted to said armature; resilient spring strip means providing a plurality of second contacts in paired juxtaposition with said iirst contacts; a corresponding plurality of yieldable snap means connecting said armature andV said spring means mounted within said cavity, each of said snap means having predetermined reactive characteristics; and unitary means connected to said armature operative to selectively register any pair of said lirst and second contacts in conductive relation against restraint of its associated snap means.

4. in an electric switch, the combination of: a frame; two contact members carried by said frame and respectively carrying electrically interengageable contacts, one said contact members being movable in a direction toward the other contact member upon application of an actuating force thereto to tend to produce electrical interengagernent of said contacts, and one of said contact members being resiliently yieldable to tend to prevent electrical interengagement of said contacts when said movable contact member is moved in a direction toward the other contact member; actuating means for applying an actuating force to said movable contact member in a direction to tend to move said movable Contact member toward the other contact member; means including a snapacting spring operatively interconnecting said contact members and resisting movement of said movable contact l ember toward the other contact member so as to tend to prevent electrical interengagement of said contacts, said snap-acting spring having a normal conguration which spaces Said contact members apart a distance suiicient to prevent electrical inter-engagement of said contacts, said snap-acting spring being capable of snapping over cen er from said normal configuration into a second contvuration upon application of an actuating force of predetermined magnitude to said movable contact memben'said second configuration of said snap-acting spring spacing said contact members apart a distance insuicient to prevent electrical interengagement of said contacts, whereby movement of said movable contact member in a direction toward the other contact member by the actuating force causes said yieldable contact member to yield to prevent electrical interengagement of said contacts until said snap-acting spring snaps over center from said normal configuration to said second congnration, whereupon relative movement of said contact members toward each other occurs suddenly to produce sudden electrical inter-engagement of said contacts; and means electrically insulating said snap-acting spring from at least one of said contacts.

5. An electric switch as defined in claim 4 wherein one of said contact members is said movable contact member and the other is said yieldable contact member.

6. An electric switch as deiined in claim 5 wherein said yield-.able Contact member is a conductor strip carrying one of said contacts at one end thereof and secured to said trarne at the other end thereof.

7. An electric switchY as defined in claim Ll .vherein one of said contact members is said movable contact member the other is said yielda e Contact member, said electric switch including resilient means interconnecting said yieldable contact member and said frame biasing said yieldable Contact member toward said movable contact member.

8. An electric switch as defined in claim 4 wherein said Contact members are electrical conductors.

9. An e'ectric switch as defined in one of said Contact member is said member and the other is said yieldable said yieldacle contact member being a l0. An electric switch as deiined in claim 4 wherein one of said contact members is said movablc'contfct member and the other is said yieldable contact member, said yieldable contact member being a spring and both of said contact members being electrical conductors.

claim 4 wherein movable Contact Contact member, spring.

1l. An electric switch as defined in claim 4 wherein said snap-acting spring is positioned between said contact members.

12. An electric switch as defined in claim 4 wherein one of said contact members is said movable contact member and the other is said yieldable contact member, said movable contact member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced contacts thereon and said electric switch including a plurality of said yieldable contact members carried by said frame in circumferentially spaced relation and respectively having thereon contacts respectively engageable by said contacts on said movable contact member, there being a plurality of said snapacting springs in circumferentially spaced relation and respectively related to said movable contact member and said yieldable contact members in the same manner as the snap-acting spring set forth in claim 4.

13. An electric switch as dened in claim 4 wherein said movable contact member is pivotally mounted on said frame.

14. An electric switch as defined in claim 4 wherein said actuating means is pivotally mounted on said frame.

l5. An electric switch as defined in claim 4 wherein said actuating means is rotatably mounted on said frame.

16. An electric switch as defined in claim 4 wherein said actuating means is reeiprocably mounted on said frame.

17. An electric switch as defined in claim 4 including a third, movable contact member carried by said frame and having a contact thereon which is engageable by a second contact on one of the contact members set forth in claim 4, said electric switch including a second snapacting spring related to said third contact member and to one of the contact members set forth in claim 4 in the same manner as the snap-acting spring set forth in claim 4 is related to the two contact members set forth therein.

18. An electric switch as defined in claim 17 wherein the snap-acting spring set forth in claim 4 and said second snap-acting spring snap over center in response to different actuating forces.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,287,491 Spaulding Dec. 10, 1918 1,818,801 Herden Aug. 11, 1931 2,085,557 Uhl June 29, 1937 2,418,965 Blair Apr. 15, 1947 2,496,135 Sedwitz Ian. 31, 1950 2,520,874 Bean Aug. 29, 1950 2,616,996 Beeman Nov. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 116,820 Sweden July 16, 1946 377,832 Germany June 30, 1923 569,965 Great Britain June 15, 1945 

